Nunley steam engine

ABSTRACT

Steam engine operable in all temperature environments without constant heating of the water, working as a self-contained steam generator and condenser, using liquid alcohol and explosive gas to increase power, and internally air cooled to reduce noise pollution.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None

STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

None

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING

None

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Steam engines have existed for over 200 years. Historically they haverelied on external steam generation with few exceptions (flash steamwithin engine) along with external condensation of expended steam.Continual heating of water has been necessary in freezing conditions.The need to create a steam engine that can be used in freezingconditions without the necessity of heating the water along with anengine that in one unit functions as a steam generator withoutpre-heating and a condenser/cooler for steam and heated gases exists.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The invention is an engine injected with water mixed with ethanol and/ormethanol to prevent freezing and enhance steam generation function. Theengine also injects an explosive gas such as (but not limited to) butaneand/or propane and/or natural gas and/or hydrogen mixed with air asappropriate for the gas or gasses used. At the end of the piston travelcompressed air is injected into the cylinder behind the piston tocondense the steam and provide sound suppression through cooling ofheated vapor. Exhaust water may be recovered or exhausted with gas/airvapor into an exhaust pipe without the need for a muffler, back pressureto the engine, or pollution controls under current regulations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF VIEW OF ENGINE

One drawing is attached showing the side view of the engine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ENGINE

Engine is a horizontal, single piston engine (1 on drawing) with powerrods (2 on drawing) extending from the sides of the piston through theends of the engine (although one rod may be used if desired for aspecial purpose). The ends of the engine are bolted to the flangedmaster cylinder. Piston has compression rings on each side withlubrication grooves circling the piston between the compression rings.At one end of the cylinder the water methanol and/or ethanol mix isinjected via a electronic injector (5 on the drawing) along with theexplosive gas or gasses and air mix via an electronically controlledvalve (6 on the drawing). Note injector and valve are shown both aboveand below the cylinder for the purpose of demonstrating they may belocated in various places as to the desire of the manufacturer and thepurpose intended for the engine. The explosive gas or gasses are ignitedvia an electric spark from a source (7 on the drawing). Exploding gasconverts the water/alcohol mix to steam vapor with the gas, steam, andalcohol powering the piston toward the other end of the cylinder. At thecenter of the engine the piston passes under an electronicallycontrolled lubrication injector (8 on the drawing). A sensor trips theinjector. Note the lubrication may either come from the top down or thebottom up depending on the size of the engine and the lubricant choiceof the lubrication engineer. Opposite of the lubrication injector is anelectronically controlled drain valve (8 a on the drawing). The pistonpasses beyond the electronically controlled air injector (3 on thedrawing) and the electronically controlled exhaust valve (4 on thedrawing). When it passes the sensor for the air injector the airinjector near the piston and the electronically controlled exhaust valveon the opposite end of the engine open. The cylinder area behind thepiston is flooded with fresh air to condense the steam and hot gasses.This cools the engine and provides noise pollution control by creating acooled (non expanding) gas to enter the exhaust pipe. The power cyclethen repeats itself with the air injector closing prior to the pistonreturn and the exhaust valve on the opposite end of the engine closingimmediately before the arrival of the piston. Again, this is done viasensors embedded in the piston and the cylinder. Sequence control of theelectronic injectors, valves, and input from sensors is per codedeveloped and operated within computer chip and related componentsoperating as the master electronic control.

On larger engines the exhaust valve may also drain out some lubricantwhich may be collected in a commercial oil/water separator then recycledwhile the cooled gas or gasses flow out through the exhaust system. Thewater may be recycled or pumped out as per the desires of themanufacturer. Lubrication of the power rods is as the lubrication of thepiston with compression rings either located closely within theextension or connected to the power rod and separated by a distanceequal to the journey of the piston. Multiple engines may be used asdeemed necessary by the manufacturer of the product to be powered.

1. I claim the use and amount of methanol and/or ethanol alcohol in thewater tank provides anti-freeze protection per the operating environmentof the engine freeing the water tank, water feed lines, water pump, andinjector from being heated. I claim the use of methanol and/or ethanolin the water provides additional power lessening the need for largeramounts of explosive gas or gasses thus minimizing air pollution fromthe exhaust. I claim the flexibility of injecting lubricant from eitherabove or below the piston and power rod(s) as per the desires of thelubrication engineer facilitates a new application in field of steamengines. I claim the injection of fresh air behind the piston and intothe cylinder makes the engine a self-contained steam generator andcondenser. I claim the injection of fresh air behind the piston and intothe cylinder cools the engine. I claim the injection of fresh air behindthe piston and into the cylinder cools and condenses the steam andexploded gas or gases thus reducing noise pollution generallyeliminating the need for further noise suppression outside the engine inthe form of mufflers. I claim any or all of the injectors, valves, andelectric ignition may be (along with computerized electronic controlelement) duplicated on the engine to meet requirements for certificationas an aviation engine.